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- Cancellation of auto-renewal of a driver's license: new rules for replacing a driver's license from January 1, 2026
Cancellation of auto-renewal of a driver's license: new rules for replacing a driver's license from January 1, 2026
In 2026, the temporary mechanism for automatic renewal of driver's licenses will end in Russia. To obtain new rights, drivers will need to go through the usual procedure: apply for a document, undergo a medical examination and other necessary procedures. For more information, see the Izvestia article.
Why cancel the automatic renewal of rights from 2026
The decision to return to the previous procedure for issuing driver's licenses is related to the stabilization of public services, the restoration of face-to-face admission and the need for regular monitoring of drivers' health status. This was stated by Azamat Zhigatov, a lawyer at the Moscow Bar Association.
— Since the beginning of 2022, the validity period of national driver's licenses in Russia has been extended automatically. Such an anti-crisis measure was associated with the consequences of the pandemic and the high burden on government agencies. However, this order has changed since April 1, 2025. The Interior Ministry explained this by stabilizing the system and the need to monitor the health of drivers," the expert noted.
The measure made it possible to reduce queues at the traffic police and the MFC during the period of restrictions. But as all departments returned to normal, there was no need for an automatic extension.
Who will be affected by the changes
The automatic renewal is valid only for those motorists whose license expires between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2025. For such drivers, the document is automatically extended for three years, and they do not need to worry about replacing it until the end of the new term.
However, for those whose ID expires after December 31, 2025, an extension is no longer provided by default. It is for these drivers that they need to prepare in advance for the replacement of their license and collect the required package of documents.
"Drivers whose licenses expire after 12/31/2025 should already be processing the necessary documents: undergo a medical examination, get a certificate, apply through Gosuslugi or the traffic police and pay the state duty,— Azamat Zhigatov reminded.
According to the expert, returning to the traditional procedure for obtaining a document will allow regaining control over medical contraindications — an important part of ensuring road safety.
What is needed to replace the rights in 2026
To issue a new ID, you will need:
— passport or other identity document;
— a medical report on the absence of contraindications;
— an application for the replacement of rights issued through the Gosuslugi portal or the traffic police;
— receipt of payment of the state duty.
The procedure will take longer than the automatic renewal, so lawyers recommend not postponing the registration of the certificate and the submission of documents at the last moment.
What is the penalty for expired rights?
If the driver continues to drive with an expired license, he may be held accountable.
— In case of non—compliance with the requirements of the law, the driver may be charged under Article 12.7 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation - "driving a vehicle by a person who does not have the right to drive." The fine ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles," Azamat Zhigatov emphasized.
You can check the relevance of the driver's license on the official portal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The cancellation of the automatic renewal restores the previous, stricter procedure for monitoring the health status of drivers. Experts believe that this measure will increase safety and help update data on all motorists in the country.
How much does it cost to change your license in 2026
In 2026, drivers will have to take into account the new, increased rates of state duty for the replacement of a driver's license, which were introduced on September 1, 2025.
So, starting from September 1, a new state duty was introduced for making changes to the Unified Automated Information System for Technical Inspection (UAISTO) when issuing a diagnostic card based on the results of the inspection in the amount of 500 rubles. The car owners themselves, who have contacted the maintenance operators, are required to pay the fee.
"Regarding the payment of the specified state duty, it is necessary to contact the maintenance operators or the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, on the territory of which the relevant service is provided," the department said.
In addition, the size of a number of other state duties has changed. In particular, for issuing a national driver's license in plastic form, the amount increased from 2 thousand to 4 thousand rubles. For issuing an international driver's license — from 1.6 thousand to 3.2 thousand rubles; for issuing license plates for cars — from 2 thousand to 3 thousand rubles; for issuing a vehicle registration certificate — from 500 to 1.5 thousand rubles; for issuing a vehicle passport — from 800 to 1.2 thousand rubles. A new state duty (15 thousand rubles) has also been introduced, related to the issuance to driving schools of an opinion on the compliance of the educational and material base with the established requirements.
Lawyers recommend not postponing the procedure at the last moment, as the need for additional consultations or repeated visits to doctors may increase costs and waiting time for a new document. You can check the current rates and the status of your ID through the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Gosuslugi portal before submitting an application.
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